Background: Dysmenorrhea refers to the occurrence of painful menstrual cramps of uterine origin. TENS may be an alternative treatment option for women with dysmenorrhea who wish to stop using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral contraceptives, or other analgesics because the existing medication is ineffective, has unacceptable adverse effects, or due to personal choice. An effective non-pharmacological method of treating dysmenorrhea would be of great potential value in treating dysmenorrhea.

Materials and Methods: 50 females with age group of 20-30 years having moderate or severe degree of disability due to dysmenorrhea with VAS score ≥ 7 without athletic background were taken into the study. Conventional TENS was applied on 1st and 2nd day of menses over the abdomen in criss-cross pattern and effect of TENS was evaluated in present and next two menstrual cycles. Assessment tools were Visual analogue scale (VAS), Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire(SF-MPQ) and Short-form Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (SF-MMDQ) and Outcome measures were Pain ( assessed by VAS and SF-MPQ), Quality of life (assessed by SF-MMDQ) and Number of analgesics used.

Results: The present study demonstrates that there is decrease in pain and improvement in quality of life after application of TENS in present cycle as well as in next two menstrual cycles in primary dysmenorrhea as evident by decrease in VAS (mean) score, SF-MPQ (mean) score and SF-MMDQ (mean) score(p=0.05).

Conclusion: Conventional TENS is effective in relieving pain and improving quality of life in moderate degree of disability due to primary dysmenorrhea. Majority of subjects have shown relief of pain and improvement in quality of life in next 2 menstrual cycles and didn’t need any analgesic after one time TENS treatment.

Agarwal Anil K and Agarwal A Study of Dysmenorrhea During Menstruation in Adolescent Girls. Indian J Community Med. Jan 2010; 35(1): 159–164

Chaudhuri Aditi et al.A randomised controlled trial of exercise and hot water bottle in the management of dysmenorrhea in school girls of chandigarh, india. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2013; 57(2): 114–122.